'Princess of polka dots' Yayoi Kusama renews collaboration with a fashion house

Yayoi Kusama is known as among the most prolific contemporary artists. Photo: Louis Vuitton

Ten years ago, Louis Vuitton worked with Yayoi Kusama to release a range of bags adorned with the artist’s signature colourful dots. The designs are still considered as sought-after collectibles.

The French fashion house is now repeating the collaboration – but this time, Kusama will not only “dress” bags, but everything else as well.

Her upcoming fashion collection includes both women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, bags, shoes, accessories, luggage and even fragrances.

It will be released in two parts – one in January, and the second two months later after that.

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As seen in the quirky designs, Kusama’s dots evoke colour and a sense of joy. They mesh beautifully with Louis Vuitton’s monogram that run throughout the collection.

The dots are symbolic, something she holds close to her heart. Kusama was even dubbed the “princess of polka dots” in the 1960s.

Her upcoming fashion collection will see designs infused with her avant-garde and quirky aesthetic. Photo: Louis Vuitton

“My desire was to predict and measure the infinity of the unbounded universe, from my own position in it, with dots,” she explained in her autobiography Infinity Net.

That said, this upcoming collection will also carry pieces emblazoned with silver dots. They are inspired by her Narcissus Garden installation at the 33rd Venice Biennale in 1966, which comprised thousands of silver orbs.

Also expect a number of pieces from the Louis Vuitton collection to carry floral motifs.

Drawing from her 1993 psychedelic Flower painting, florals bloom across accessories and ready-to-wear designs.

Kusama was born in 1929, in Japan, to a family of merchants. She is said to have experienced visual and auditory hallucinations since childhood.

She however translated these experiences into art with her first creations of net and polka dot patterned sketches and paintings.

Upon travelling to the US, she further expanded her influence – leading to her eventually being known as one of the world’s most successful living, female artists in the field of pop and minimal art.

Moving back to Japan in 1973, Kusama first met the then Louis Vuitton creative director, Marc Jacobs, in her studio in 2006, presenting him with the brand’s Ellipse bag painted over with her signature dots.

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That encounter sparked the magical coupling of a Louis Vuitton and Kusama partnership in 2012, which is seen through various universes of the brand – from products and exhibitions to window installations.

The next Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collection will also be celebrated in the same way. In the works are immersive window displays, pop-ups, anamorphic billboards, augmented reality experiences and an extended reality game.

Recognising Kusama’s larger than life personality, Louis Vuitton describes her as a “priestess of a total, hypnotic and colourful art”.

“Yayoi Kusama is known throughout the world as an avant-garde artist. True to her signature throughout the years, she applies her motifs ad infinitum, completely invading the space,” reads the press statement from the brand.